What LA County’s New RHHP Clarification Means for Multi-Building Rental Properties

If you own rental property with more than one building on the lot, there’s a quiet update you need to know about—and it might change how much your RHHP compliance costs.

LA County recently issued clarification on how the Rental Housing Habitability Program handles multi-building properties. For some property owners, this is very good news. For others, it changes the math on compliance costs.

The Original Confusion

When RHHP launched, there was ambiguity about properties with multiple structures. If you have a main house with a guest house, or a duplex in front with a detached unit in back, how does the inspection requirement apply?

Some owners were told each building counted separately. Others heard the whole property was treated as one. The inconsistency was causing problems.

The New Clarification

LA County has now clarified that multi-building properties on a single parcel are treated as one property for RHHP purposes, but each rental unit within those buildings must be inspected.

This means:

• You register the property once (one registration fee)
• You receive one inspection deadline for the entire parcel
• All rental units across all buildings must be inspected
• Common areas shared between buildings are included

Example: The Lopez Property

The Lopez family owns a lot in East LA with three structures: a main house (2 units), a rear house (1 unit), and a converted garage (1 unit). Under the clarification:

• One property registration
• One inspection deadline
• Four units inspected
• Shared areas (driveway, yard, electrical service) included

Why This Matters for Your Budget

The Good News

If you have multiple buildings with multiple units, you may save on per-unit inspection costs. Many inspectors (myself included) offer volume pricing when inspecting multiple units at the same property.

The Consideration

If your additional structures weren’t built with permits—like many converted garages and “guest houses” in LA County—you may have bigger issues than RHHP compliance. Unpermitted structures often don’t meet habitability standards and may require significant work to pass inspection.

Action Steps

1. Inventory your structures. How many buildings? How many rental units total?
2. Check your permits. Were all structures built or converted with proper permits?
3. Schedule a preparation inspection. A certified home inspector can assess all units and identify issues before the county deadline.
4. Budget accordingly. Multi-unit properties may have more issues to address, but you can often get better per-unit pricing.

Questions About Your Property?

Every multi-building property is different. If you’re not sure how this clarification affects your specific situation, I’m happy to talk through it. Sometimes a quick phone call is all you need to understand your compliance path.

Nathan Sewell LA Building Inspections & Compliance (626) 214-5929 nathan@larentalinspections.com

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